Would a firm like "Doug Winter Consulting" be viable today?

Longacre

I was taking a look at the Doug Winter site. In the "About Me" section, it gives a professional history of Mr. Winter. Of particular note is the following item:

"Winter left this company in 1985 to begin his own firm: Douglas Winter Consulting. This company specialized in performing research for other coin companies. Some of its clients included Sotheby's, Superior, Christie's, Mid American Rare Coin Auctions and R.M. Smythe. "



With today's relatively few auction firms, and their impressive in-house staffs of professional researchers, would a firm like Doug Winter Consulting be able to thrive in today's market? [Disclaimer--obviously this is not a question specifically about Winter and whether he is employable by other firms as a researcher; it is a question asking basically whether an independent numismatic researcher would be as in demand today as one might have been in the past].

ColonialCoinUnion

How long did that gig last in 1985?

michael

oh my yes

yes yes yes

Longacre

<< <i>How long did that gig last in 1985? >>





Based on the website, it looks like the gig lasted 4 years.

RYK

I would venture to say that part of Douglas Winter Numismatics' current business is "consulting", probably a small part, but I do not know the actual details, nor could I define "consulting" in this context.

Edit: Shouldn't CCU be jumping out a window about now?

CoinRaritiesOnline

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't "consulting" used in this context simply mean, "cataloging auction lots as an independent contractor"?

Those companies he listed were all coin auction firms during that period.

If that is the case, there still are independent auction catalogers today that do work for most of the auction houses.

numisma

I think that DorkKarl Consulting, Inc. has a nice ring to it. He could offer his services to all of the grading companies.

mrearlygold

<< <i>How long did that gig last in 1985? >>